Below are some before and after pictures of breast reduction for men. The latter two are just boys. According to members of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, breast reduction is the most common cosmetic procedure among 13-19 year olds (girls and boys combined). Members performed 17,269 in 2006. What I think is most amazing about the pictures below (borrowed from here), is how trivial the difference is between the before and after pictures. These men were diagnosed with “moderate” gynecomastia. The belief that men are flat chested and women are breasted is not based in biology. In reality, there is a great deal more overlap between men’s and women’s bodies than we’re comfortable with… so off to the plastic surgeon.

Patient One

Before and after front view:

Before and after 3/4 view:

Patient Two

Before and after front view:

Before and after 3/4 view:

Patient Three (Adolescent)

Before and after front view:

Before and after 3/4 view:

Patient Four (Adolescent)

Before and after front view:

Before and after 3/4 view:

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Sociological Images encourages people to exercise and develop their sociological imaginations with discussions of compelling visuals that span the breadth of sociological inquiry. Read more…